Industrial truck



H. T. PLUMES.

INDUSTRIAL RUCK.

iPPLlCATION -ILED MAY 9. 1919. 194.1322299.; Pm'md'fbbt. Il?. E922..

4 sHEETs-sHEE`T 1.

'Iri l k l l.

H. T. PLEINI2- INDUSTRIAL TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1919.

Patented (Ich II?, i922.,

4 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

H. T. PLEINES.

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED III/Iv 9. I9I9.

Patented 0033. T1', M221 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H.; T. PLETNES.

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK.

-APPLICATIQN FILED MAY 9. 1919.

Lggggo Mmm @en 179 11.922,

4 SHEETSSHEET 4..

In 061673Z@ ff/@QQ NET HENRY T. PLEINES, OF CLEVELATD, OHIO, ASSG-NOR T0 THE IKEWOQD ENGINEER ING' COMPANY, OF LAKEWOOD, OHEO, A CORPORATON OFOHIO.

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK.

Application med May e, i919. semaine. 295,931.

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

Beit known that l, HENRY T. PLEINES, :t citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain newin industrial and useful improvement Trucks, of which the following is a full, y clear, and exact description. y

The present' invention relates to that type of trucks which are commercially known as industrial trucks.

In this type of trucks it is quite common to provide the trucks with a platform which Ymay be raised to a limited extent, either vby hand power or motor power and the truck of the present invention embodies a similar feature but additionally provides a construction and mechanism by which the platform maybe raised to a considerably greater height than the usual type of 'lifting trucks, so that material which is being carried by the truck may be elevated to any height desired within the limits rof the truck, thus enabling the truck to be utilized not only as a lifting truck, but as a tiering truck as well.

The objects of the invention are manifold. One object is to provide a self propelled truck which may be-used as a .lifting truck and asl a tieringtruck.v

further object is to'provide a construction in which the raising and lowering operation of the lifting latform portion of the truck is also controlled, so as to be stopped v at the limit of its movement. i

by a mechanism 'which automatically loe-..

comes locked when the driving power for raising theplatform is stopped, so that the platform is held in position and at the 4height to which ithas been raised.

Further objects of the invention will appear more at large as the'description proceeds and generally speaking the invention A further object is to provide a construc-` maybe. saidto comprise the elements and the combination thereof set forth in the accompanying claims.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which F ig. l is a side elevation of the truck embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view; vFig. 3 is a front elevation; Fig. 4 isa top plan View with portions broken awa from apart of the driving mechanism; ig. 5 is a sideelevation with portions in section showing certain features of the construction for the mounting of the lifting platform; F ig. 6 is a diagram `of` an electric circuit.

Referring to thevdrawings, the frame of the truck comprises a forwardy portion which is made up of lower side members l, and upper members 2, these side members at their forward ends are connected with transversely extending members 3 and the upper and lower mlembers l at their forward means of members 4:.

The members l arev preferably made ofy channel iron,as is likewise the lower front transverse member which joins them.. The upper members2 arel preferablyllmade of angle bars and the forward vertical members i are also preferably m'ade of angle bars. i

IThe ends of the members l and 2 are joined to 'vertically extending channel members 5, there being two such channel members which are spacedapart and as is shown in F ig. 2, the lower side members l are bent inwardly as indicated at lZL for the pur-pose of securing them to the channels 5.

The members l are provided with transverselyextending supportinr members one of whichisy indicated, at 6 in 7lfig. 2.

The space which comprises y within the members l and 2 and the vertical members 4 is preferably enclosed by afsu'itable housingr of sheet metal such as indicated at 7 and forms a compartment within which is housed a storage battery 8l and a motor 9.

cated at 10,

' pivoted the short axles 12 of the wheels 13.

These short axles 12are pivote-d upon the portion l11v just described so as to permit movement of the wheels 13 about their pivotal mounting for the purpose of steering as will later be described.

The channel members 5 are at their upper portions secured to a transversely extending channel member 14.

`.4t the upper ends of the members v5 there are secured extending angle members l16 which are held by means of gusset plates 17.

The members 16 support trunnion blocks 18 'p -the bell crank lever in turn is 'connected It will be noted that the rearV portion of',y the frame 10 lies below the forward portion' ofthe frame as represented by the side channel members 1.

Below the forward port-ion of the frame, that is to say, below the side channel members 1, there is a transversely extending axle 22., lThis is shown in Fig. 2. This axleat its outer ends is constructed to receive a knuckle joint generally indicated at 23,

which Aknuckle joint follows the usual construction of carrying a short shaft upon which the wheel, as indicated at -24 is mounted, same construction pertains with respect to wheel 25.

Without entering into any detail description, it may be said that a gear mechanism not shown oi described, is provided for driving the wheels 24 vand 25, at the same time permitting their being turned for steering purposes. This structure in part is shown in Fig. 1 in which there is shown a gear 26 which meshes with a worm 27 that is carried upon a shaft 28, which shaft is in turn connected with the motor shaft as indicated in 29.

Upon shaft 28 there is a drum 30 and cooperating with this drum is a 'braking mechanism 31shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the brake mechanism is applied by means of a foot lever 32@L which is pivotally adjacent, the front platform 32, this platform being carried by members, which are in turn sup ported from the transverse channel member 3.

Connected with the axles which support the wheels 24and 2,5 are arms 33 and 34. These arms 'bei-ng capable of being turned for the purpose of steering the wheels. The arms 33 and 34 are connected with -a member-.35 by m'eans of rods 3G, ,shown in Fig. 2. The member 35 is mounted upon a shaft 37 which as shown in Fig.v2 is at its upper end supported in one of the rear cross members such as 6 and at its lower end is supported -by a bracket 38- which is carried by the cross channel 39a, which secures the lower ends of the channels 5 together. The shaft 37 is capable of turning in its bearings.

Upon the shaft 37 below the member 35, there is mounted amember 39 which is provided withfarms 40 and 41. To the arms there' is secured a rod 42 which at its .for-

ward end connects with a bell crank lever 43, which lever is pivoted at its elbow and connected, is provided Awith extending arms 11a. These arms converge and at their oint of convergence theyjgive support to a s eeve 48, (see Fig. 3) which carries an" arm 49 to whicharm there is pivotally secured a rod 50, this. rod extendsslightly above they frame 10 andy at its forward end is secured to -the arm 41 which isA carried upon the'member 39 lso that as the member 39 maybe turned through the action of the rod 42, motion is imparted to the rod 50.

The sleeve 48 also is provided 'with an arm 51 and to this arm 51 there are pivoted rods 52 which'extend divergently and are pivotally connected with arms 53 which are carried by the lshort axles for the wheels 13.

F rom the construction which has been described a-nd shown in Fig. 2 it will be seen that the front and rear wheels are steere:l simultaneously, but the. rear wheels are not .moved in the same direction as the front wheels, but in the opposite direction. That is to say, when the front wheels are turned about their pivots in a clockwise direction1 the rear wheels are turned about their pivots in a counter-clockwise direction.

The controller by which the opera-tion including the starting and stopping of the driving motor 9 is controlled, is indicated i ,aaaaee operative only when the plate 32 is depressed, in other words, when an operator is standing on the platform 8&2. as will be noted this plate 32 also operates the brake 31.

Coeoperating 'with each of the upright channel-members 5 are members 58 which will be more clearly seen in Fig. 5. These members v58 have arms 59 and 60 and the arms 59 adjacent one end thereof have rollersi61, which are mounted upon a shaft 62, which shaft extends transversely between the channel members 5 and the arms on the members 58 receive and journal the shaft 62. f

The arms 59 of each of the members 58 support another shaft 63 which is substantially at the juncture of the arm 59 and 60. This shaft supports rollers 64, which rollers'bear upon the opposite side of the channel members 5 to which the rollers 61 i bear, so that there is a cantilever effect.

Between the arms 59 there extends a joining member and upon this member there are ears 66, which cio-operate witlrears 67 which are carried by the arms 59. Each set of ears 66 and 67 forms a support for the trunnions of aynut 68 and each nut cooperates with threaded members 69 and 70.

The arms 60 extend away from the channel memlbers 5 there extends a short shaft 71..to which there are pivoted members 72, which4 members form supports and extend longitudinally beneath the platform 73. `The outer ends of the arms 60 are provided with set screws 60a which are adapted to engage with the under side of the platform 7 8, so as to adjust the platform for the purpose of leveling the same where such may be desired. During these movements as will be understood the platform swings about the shaft 71. c

The threaded members 69 and 70 are at their lower ends supported in brackets, one of which is indicated at in Fig. 5.

These threaded members extend longi` tudinally between the members 5 and at their upper ends, the members 60 and 70 extend into a casing 76 which is supported at the upper end of thel members 5.

The casing is provided with trunnions 76a whic-h enga-ge in supports 77. lVithin the casing 76 there is a worm gear 78 which is secured to the member 69. There is also a worm gear 79 which is secured to the threaded member 70. Both of the gears 78 and 79 mesh with a worm 8O which worm is driven by shaft 81, whlch through a suitand between these arms;

'locking action results, if power be transmitted from the members 69 and 70 to the worm gear 80. rlhis construction prevents the platform from descending under its own weight or load and furthermore, when the platform is raised and the power is shut off, the platform remains at the position to which it has been raised. l l

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that as the motor drives the worm 8O the worm gears 79and 8O willcause rotation of the members 69 and 70. rlhese members of course, are driven in opposite direction, but they are oppositely threaded, therefore they produce the same resultant effect, so far as the movement is concerned with respect'to the nuts 68 which are associated therewith. The nuts traveling along the members 69 and 70 will cause the members 58, which in turn carry the platform, to be raised or lowered in accordance with the direction in which the motor 19 is driven.`

The motor 19 is electrically connectedi` with the battery 8 and the circuit for the I Idirection suitable electrical connections are made to move the platform 7 8 in one direction and when the handle is pushed in a rearward direction with respect` tov the oper` ator suitable electrical connections are made to move the platform 78 in the opposite direction.

. The handle of the controller 84 is by means of a rod 85 connected with an arm vof the bell crank lever 86, which bell crank lever is pivoted on the frame of the machine as indicated in Fig. 1. The other arm of the bell crank lever is connected to two rods 87 and 88, which at their extremities are connected to two levers which are indicated at 89 and 90 respectively; these levers are pivoted to adjacent portions of the machine, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The levers 89 and 90 are so positioned that they lie in the path of movement of the shaft- 62 which connects the upper rollers 61 of the platform 73.

The handle to the controller 84 is pushed rearwardly with respect to the operator when the elevating` platform 73 is raised.

vthe lever 89, raising the lever and thereby,

through the mechanism which connects it with. the handle of the controller, moving the controller to its neutral position. This, then, breaks the circuit between the motor 19 and thebattery, thereby stopping the -drivingvaction of that motor.

When the platform is to be lowered the i handle of the controller 84 is'moved in a forward direction with respect to the operator, which in turn causes-the rod 88 to be elevated and by so much the lever 9() to be elevated. Therefore, when the raising platform 73 descendsto a place adjacent its lowermost position the shaft 62 which carries the roller 61 engages with the lever 90, depressing the same and moving1 the controller handle to its neutral position, thus disconnecting` the motor 19 from the battery 8.

`t will, therefore, be apparent that the mechanism which has just been described -forms a. pair of limiting stops which effectually arrests the driving action of the motor with respect to the platform 7 3 when the table has reached its uppermostior its lowermost position.

Asy a matter of safety it is'very desirable that the motor 9 which is the propelling motor for the truck itself shall not be oper'- ated nor capable of operation during the raising and lowering of the platform 79. The reason for this is almost obvious, as it will at once be apparent that when. the platform 73 is raised to a height of a` few feet above the floor, particularly when the platform carries a load, it is dangerous to have the truck in movement.

On the other hand there may be a limitedamount of movement of the platform 73 permitted when the platform is near its lowermost position. Under such circumstances even if the platform 79 carries a load it is so near the ioor, or in other words, the center of 'gravity ofthe platform and its loadv is so: low that there could be no tipping actionfpossible.

have/.therefore provided a construction such thatthe plaform 73 may be raised or lowered lto a limited extent when near itslowerxnost position, but when the platform is raised to the higher positions, the circuit.

which includes the motor 9, the battery 8,

and the controller 55, is opened, rendering that circuit dead so that the motor 9 can not be operated.

The permissible height to which the table fixed in the machine, and in the Present instance the construction is such that the platform 7 3 may be raised or lowered within approximately a distance ofv 10 from the floor without opening the circuit to the driving motor'l 9. A

The constructionby which this is effected is more-particularly shown in Fig. 5.

One' of the channels 5 carries a pair of contacts indicated at 90 and 91. These contacts are spaced apart. A lever 92 is pivoted at 93 upon the channel 5. This lever carries an arm 94 which is pivoted upon the lever 92 above the pivot 93. The lever 92 carries a second Iarm 95 which is pivoted to the lever 92 below the pivot 93'. Both the arms 94 and 95 aremounted so as to extend through a portion of the channel 5 into the path of movement of one of the rollers G1. a block of conducting material which is indicated at 96. When the block 96 .engages with the contacts 90 and 91 the rcircuit of which 'the contacts 90 and 91 are a par-t is closed, and whenthe lever 92 is moved so that the block 96 is disengaged' from the 'Fig 5, the roller'l is below the arm 94.

Therefore the platform'73 may be raised or lowered a limited' eiitent without' engaging the arm 94 and so long asthe movement of the platform 73-is confined within the limits just specified the circuit of which the contacts 90 and 91 is a part is closed.

In Figo there is shown a diagram illustrating the circuit which includes-the 4battery 8, the motor 9 andthe controller 55,

and the contacts 90 and 91 form parts of this circuit.

Therefore it will be seen that when the circuit between the contacts 90 and 91 is closed, as I have above explained, the motor 9 may be ,operated so that the truck may be moved and the platform 7 3 mav be raised or lowered within vthe limits set frth. When n the platform 7 3 is' elevated so that the roller 61 engages with the arm 94,"it de# ver 92 about' its pivot and breaking the electrical connection between: lthe contacts 90-91. circuit between the battery and the motor 9. Therefore in all positions of the raising platform 78 above the position in which the roller 61 engages the arm 94, the circuit to the motor 9 is open, and therefore the truck can not be driven.

It will be clear that if the roller 61 has presses thearm 94 thereby moving the le- Y This, as will be clear, opens the .I

engaged and pushed the a'rm 94 inwardly,

as the platform 7 3 is raised, the lever 95 has been pushed outwardly and is in positionv to be engaged by the roller 61 upon the de* thereby moving the lever 92, into position to close the circuit between the contacts 90 and 91,

The construction which has just been described enables the device to be used Aas inv dustrial lift trucks are normallv used, that j platform ahead.

is to say, providing the raising and lowering platform with but a limited range of movement, or the device may be used as a tiering devicev because it will be apparent the platform 73 may be raised to any desired height within the limits of the construction of the machine. Therefore the device may be used in connection with the usual, type of load carrying skids, being operated so as to insert the platform 73 beneath the same, after which the platform may be raised a limited amount justl sufficient toraise the skid off the floor and the load be transmitted in this condition, or where it vbe desired to tier the load carried, the platform 73 may be raised to any desired height within the limits of the machine.

ln operating the machine the operator usually faces the raising platform and the forward movement is usually made with the However, it is not intended by any statement herein to in any way to limit the invention as to which may be considered the front or the rea-r end of the truck.

Having described my invention, I claim,

1. In a truck, a frame, wheels upon which the frame is mounted, said frame having a rear portion which is low lying and adjacent tothe supporting surface for the truck, substantially vertically .extending members which' are carried by the frame and adjacent one end of the rear portion of the truck frame, a platform mounted to move upon the said vertical members and guided thereby and means for raising and lowering the platform.

2. In a truck, a frame, wheels upon which the frame is mounted', means carried by the frame for driving the truck, said' frame comprising a front elevated portion and a rear low lying portion, vertically extending members carried by the said frame at the adjacent ends of the said portions of the frame, a platform mounted to move upon the said vertical members and guided the'reby and means for raising and lowering the platform.

3. In a truck, a frame, wheels upon which the frame is mounted, means carried by the frame for driving the truck, said frame comprising a front elevated portion and a rear low lying portion, vertically extending members which join the adjacent end portions of the elevated and low lying portions of the frame, a4 platform mounted to move upon the said vertical members and guidedthereby and means forraising and lowering the platform.A Y

4. Ina truck, a frame, wheels upon which the frame is mounted, means carried by the frame for driving the truck, said frame comprising a front elevated portion and a rear low lying portion, vertically extending members which serve to join the two adjacent portions of the frame, said vertical members extending' above the elevated portio'n of the frame, a platform mounted to move upon said vertical members and serving to guide the'platform and means for raising and lowering the platform.

5.*ln a truck, aframe, wheels upon which the frame is mounted, means carried by the frame for driving the truck, oppositively disposed verticallyl extending members secured to the frame, a platform mounted to move upon the said vertical members and guided thereby, a supporting means mount-l ed adjacent the upper end of said verticall members a motor supported upon the said supporting means, operating mechanism for raising and lowering the platform and a connection between the motor and operating means.

6L In a truck, a frame, wheels upon which the frame is mounted, means carried by the frame for driving the truck, said frame comprising a front elevated portion anda rear low lying portion, vertically extending members which serve` to join two adjacent portions of the frame, said vertical members extending above the elevated portion of the frame, a motor supported by and at the upper end of said vertically extending member, a movable platform mounted to move upon said vertical members, operating mechanism for raising and lowering the platform' and a connection between thel motor and said operating mechanism;

7. In a truck, a frame, wheels upon "which the motor and the said threaded member.

8. ln a truck, a frame, wheels upon which the frame is mounted, means carried by the frame for driving the truck, oppositely disposed vertically extending memberssecured to the frame, a platform mounted to move upon the said vertically extending members,- 'a plurality of threaded members extending longitudinally with respect to the vertical members, a nut cooperating with each 'threaded member, each of said nuts being connected with said platform, worm wheels Ymounted at the ends of said threaded mem- 'upon the said vertically extending members, a threaded member extending longitudinally and between the said vertical members, a nut associated with the platform and cooperating with the said threaded member, a worm wheel mounted at one end'of 'the said threaded member, adriving worm cooperating with said worm wheel, a motor supported adjacent to said driving worm and a driving connection between the motor and said driving worm.

10.In a trucka frame, wheels upon which the frame is mounted, means carried by the frame for driving'the truck, oppositely dis# posed vertically extending .members secured to the frame, a latform mounted to move upon said vertical members and. guided thereby, a' plurality of threaded members extending longitudinally with respect to the vertical members, a nut associated with each threaded member, said nuts being connected with the said platform, a worm wheel carried -by each threaded member adjacent to an end thereof, a driving worm cooperating with said worm wheel, a support'secured to said vertical members adjacent the ends thereof, a motor carried by said support, and a driving connection between the motor and the said driving worm.

11. Inv a truck, a frame, wheels upon which the frame is mounted, means carried bythe frame for driving the truck, oppositely disposed vertically extending members secured to the frame, a platform mounted to move upon said vertical members and guided thereby, a nut associated with each of the threaded members, said nuts being `connected with the platform, a casing pivotally mounted at its ends adjacent the ends of the said 'vertical members, worm wheels within said casing, each worm being connected with one of thesaid threaded members, a driving worm supported in the casing and cooperating with the said worm wheels, a support adjacent the upper ends lof said vertical members, a motor pivotally I supported upon said support, and a flexible driving connection between said the said driving worin.`

12. In a truck, a frame, wheels upon which motor and the said frame is'mounted, a pair of vertically extending members, a platform, said platform being guided and retained by the said vertical members, a pair of threaded members which extend longitudinally between the said vertical members, said members being oppositely threaded, a nut associated with each of vthe said threaded members the said nuts being carried by the platformyworm wheels connected with the upper ends of each of said threaded members, a drivingv worm engaging with the worm wheels,- the pitch of said worm with respect to the said worm wheels being such that the worml wheels cannot drive the worm, a motor mounted adjacent the upper end of said vertical members and a driving connection between the motor and the driving worm. Y

13. In a' truck, a frame, wheels iupon which the saidframe is mounted, a pair of vertically extending members, a platform, said platform being provided with rollers which lie upon opposite sides of the `said uprightmembers whereby the platform is guided and held in its movement, a air of threaded members extending longitudinally between the said vertical members, a nut associated with each of the said threaded members, the said nut being mounted upon the platform, a worm wheel associated withv an en-d of each -of said threaded members a worm cooperating with the said worm blowering the said support.

15. In a truck, a frame,l a pair o f vertically extending members and support, said support being provided with means which engage upon opposite sides of the vertical members whereby the support is guided andheld in its movement, a platform pivoted at one end upon said support and means for engaging another part of the platform whereby the'platform may be adjusted with respect to-its support and means for raising and lowering the said support.

16. In a truck, a frame, a platform, means for raising and lowering said platform including a motor and controller for the said motor and mechanically operated stops arranged at the up er and lower limits of movement of the p atform, means carried by the platform for operating said stops and means connecting the said stops with the controller whereby when the stops are operated the controller is thrown into neuI tral position.

17. In a truck, a frame, a platform, means for raising and lowering said platform including a motor and controller for'the said motor a movable member-mounted adjacent the upper limit ofpmovement of said platform and a movable member mounted 'adj acent the lower limitof movement of said platform, means connecting each of said movable members with the controller whereby the controller is movedV to neutral position when the platform engages with either of the movable members.

18. In a truck, a frame, a platform, means for raisingand lowering said platform inoluding a motor an-d controller for said motor and a movable member mounted adjacent the upper limit of movement of the platform, a movable member mounted adjacent the lower limitV of movement of the platform, rods associated with said movable members and a lever with which said rods are connected and a rod connecting the lever with a moving part of the controller for the purpose specified.

19. In a truck, a frame, a pair of vertically extending members, a platform, said platform being guided and retained by said vertical members, means for raising` and lowering said platform, said means including a motoi and a movable member mounted adjacent the upper end of said vertical ineinbers, a movable member mounted adjacent the lower end of said vertical members, said movable members lying in the path of movement of a part of the platform, a controller for said motor and means connecting the said movable members with a mov-.

able part of the controller whereby the controller' is moved to neutral position when the platform engages the movable member at the top or at Athe bottom of the vertical members.

20.1n a truck, a frame, wheels upon which the said frame is mounted, a motor mounted upon the said frame for driving the truck, a movable platform, mleans for i'aising and lowering said platform, a switch, said switch comprisinga stationary part and a movable part, said switch being electrically connected with the motor, said platform being adapted to operate the movable part of the switch during its elevating or lowering movement.

21. In a truck, a frame, wheels upon which a frame is mounted, a motor carwhich the frame is mounted, a motor carried by the fra-me for driving the truck and raising and lowering platform guiding means with which the platform cooperates, means for raising and lowering the platform, a switch member comprising a movable member and a stationary member which switch is electrically connected with the motor, operating members associated with the movable part of the switch, which mlovable members are also associated with the said guiding members and in position 'to be engaged by a portionl of the platform upon the raising and lowering thereof thereby to move the switch into open or closed position.

Q3. In a truck, a frame, wheels upon which the frame is mounted, amotor carried by the frame for driving the truck, vertically extending members, a ylatform having rollers associated therewit which engage with the said vertical members,

means for'raising and lowering the said platform, a switch for controlling operation ofthe motor comprising a nrovable member and a' stationary member associated with one of the vertical members, operating means for said movable member carried by one of the vertical members and extending in the' path travel of a platform roller whereby the movable member of the switch is moved to open or closed position as the platform ascends or descends.

In testimony whereof, l hereunto afIiX my signature.

HENRY T. PLEINES.

K Certicete f Correction. v It Iis hereby certified that n Letters Patent No. 1,432,299, ,granted October 17, 1922, ilpon the application of Henry T. Pleines, 0f Cleveland, Ohio, `for an iinprovement in Industrial Trucks, an error appears in the printed specification requiring Correction as follows: Page 5, line 115, clailn 7, strike put the Words means and a driving `connection between and insert the Words and syllable longitudinally with respect to the vertz; and that the said' Letters 4Patent should 'be read With this correct-ion therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent- O'lice.

S-ignecl'and sealed this 9th day of January', A., D., 1923.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting 00mm/lesione? 0 f Patents. 

